Our awesome Dietitian Aimee from our Cremorne clinic takes us through how to prepare easy healthy dinners for someone with Diabetes.

Struggling to put together a well-balanced meal at dinnertime for you or a family member who has Diabetes? This quick article will assist you in maintaining stable blood sugar levels, a healthy weight and maximum food satisfaction and enjoyment at dinner!

Dinner time can be challenging when we get home from an exhausting day. The last thing we want to think about is “What’s for Dinner”? – Sound familiar? Read on.

WHY? Well if your goal is to maintain or lose some weight to help control your diabetes then choosing a healthy, well-balanced meal is important to ensure extra kilojoules, sugar and fat are not creeping into your last main meal of the day.

Diabetes in a Nutshell – what is happening in your body!

Diabetes is when high levels of glucose circulate within the blood. When we consume carbohydrate-containing foods, our body breaks it down into glucose (sugar). The presence of glucose triggers the release of insulin, a hormone helping to reduce glucose levels in the blood. When the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin or insulin doesn’t work as effectively, diabetes arises. Without adequate insulin, glucose in the blood builds up and can increase short and long-term health risks.

Type 1 – When the pancreas cannot produce insulin due to the body’s immune system damaging the cells that usually make insulin, therefore insulin must be replaced in order to manage blood sugar levels.

Type 2 – Usually a result of either insulin resistance where the pancreas is supplying insulin, however the cells are resisting the insulin, compromising the uptake of glucose for energy and or over time the pancreas can become overworked and fails to produce adequate insulin to glucose ratio.

To achieve a healthy balanced dinner, having a few handy kitchen supplies is important so you can make a quick, nutritious and delicious meal that ticks all the boxes and keeps your blood sugar levels in check.

Low Starch Vegetables – a variety of colours helps you to achieve a balance of micronutrients & fibre!Fill half your plate with an array of low starch vegetables. Some convenient options: